Darwin's Living Legacy--Evolutionary Theory 150 Years Later

A Victorian amateur undertook a lifetime pursuit of slow, meticulous observation and thought about the natural world, producing a theory 150 years ago that still drives the contemporary scientific agenda

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2009:

Darwin Day marks the naturalist's birthday on February 12 and will be observed with dozens of events in at least 10 countries. Stay abreast of what's happening at www.darwinday.org....[
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2009:

Darwin Day marks the naturalist's birthday on February 12 and will be observed with dozens of events in at least 10 countries. Stay abreast of what's happening at www.darwinday.org[
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Courtesy of Càtedra de Divulgació de la Ciència Universitat de València

Mid-2000s:

Genetic analyses have shown evidence of relatively recent
human evolution--dating back several thousand years.....[
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Mid-2000s:

Genetic analyses have shown evidence of relatively recent
human evolution--dating back several thousand years.[
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1953:

James D. Watson and Francis Crick discover the structure of DNA, making it possible to study the molecular biology of evolution.....[
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1953:

James D. Watson and Francis Crick discover the structure of DNA, making it possible to study the molecular biology of evolution.[
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A. Barrington Brown Photo Researchers, Inc.

1936-1947:

The modern synthesis combines Darwin's ( right ) evolutionary theory with Mendelian genetics.....[
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1936-1947:

The modern synthesis combines Darwin's (right) evolutionary theory with Mendelian genetics.[
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BETTMANN / Corbis (Mendal); Julia Margaret Cameron (Darwin)

1925:

The Scopes Monkey trial
in Tennessee tries a teacher based on a law that made it illegal
to teach any theory that denies divine creation.....[
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1925:

The Scopes Monkey trial
in Tennessee tries a teacher based on a law that made it illegal
to teach any theory that denies divine creation.[
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Granger Collection

1871:

In The Descent of Man , Darwin ties the human lineage
to primate ancestors, provoking outrage in some quarters and the caricaturing of his image.....[
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1871:

In The Descent of Man, Darwin ties the human lineage
to primate ancestors, provoking outrage in some quarters and the caricaturing of his image.[
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GALLERY COLLECTION / Corbis

1865:

Czech monk Gregor Mendel publishes his research on inheritance, but the importance of his work is not recognized for 35 more years.....[
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1865:

Czech monk Gregor Mendel publishes his research on inheritance, but the importance of his work is not recognized for 35 more years.[
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BETTMANN / Corbis

1838:

Charles Darwin formulates the theory of natural selection, which is not published for more than 20 years. When printed in 1858 On the Origin of Species sells out as soon as it is published.....[
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1838:

Charles Darwin formulates the theory of natural selection, which is not published for more than 20 years. When printed in 1858 On the Origin of Species sells out as soon as it is published.[
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BETTMANN / Corbis

1831:

Darwin leaves on
a five-year around-the-world journey on the HMS Beagle .....[
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1831:

1830:

Charles Lyell publishes Principles of Geology, a formative influence on Darwin's thinking about the gradualism of natural processes as can be witnessed in the Grand Canyon.....[
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1830:

Charles Lyell publishes Principles of Geology, a formative influence on Darwin's thinking about the gradualism of natural processes as can be witnessed in the Grand Canyon.[
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Rosanne Olson / Getty Images

1809:

Darwin ( shown opposite his younger sister ) is born in Shrewsbury, England, into the comfort of a wealthy family.....[
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1809:

Darwin (shown opposite his younger sister) is born in Shrewsbury, England, into the comfort of a wealthy family.[
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Granger collection

1735:

Carl Linnaeus publishes
the first volume of Systema Naturae , which laid the foundations for taxonomy. Later he suggested that plants descend from a common ancestor.....[
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1735:

Carl Linnaeus publishes
the first volume of Systema Naturae, which laid the foundations for taxonomy. Later he suggested that plants descend from a common ancestor.[
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610-546 B.C.:

Greek philosopher Anaximander suggests that all life-forms evolved from fish in the seas and went through a process of modification once they were established
on land.....[
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610-546 B.C.:

Greek philosopher Anaximander suggests that all life-forms evolved from fish in the seas and went through a process of modification once they were established
on land.[
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GETTY IMAGES

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